Revamping

I was working on book three, but having a general lack of inspiration, coupled with a very real lack of time, found myself making little progress.  There had been some nagging thoughts in the back of my mind regarding the first novel and portions that I left out.  When I revisited The Halfblood King, I found some new inspiration.  It is still a very slow process, due to my limited time, but here is the first revised chapter.  When I re-release volume 1, It will detail Aleron’s visits to the northern dwarvish kingdom, the elvish colony and he and his friends enlistment in the Sudean Marines.

Chapter 24

Zorekday, Day 18, Harvest Moon. 8760 Sudean Calendar

The road crossing the spine of the Blue Mountains is among the most heavily fortified routes on Aertu, due to the prevalence of trolls in the highlands. For that reason, the travelers spent their nights in the way stations closely spaced along the highway during the long excursion between the dwarvish capitals. After more than a month travelling they found themselves at the gates to Nhargul, capital of the Northern Kingdom and the oldest city of dwarves on Aertu. Entry to the city was handled in much the same manner as at Dhargul, though with far less fanfare. Hadaras’ name was known here, but carried not the weight it did in the Southern Kingdom. They proceeded through the gate, passing stone blocks equal in size to those Aleron saw in the south and made their way to the stables to board their mounts.
After seeing to the horses, the pair headed to the boarding house Hadaras remembered as the best the city had to offer. The dwarvish inscription above the entrance translated to “The Brown Bear’s Repose” and skillfully carved figures of bears curled in sleep graced the platforms to either side.
“This is where we will be staying for the next week,” Hadaras stated, “unless the establishment has declined in the thirteen years since I last visited.”
With saddlebags slung over their shoulders, they stepped into a grand foyer, the walls and ceilings decorated with intricate carvings and colorful stone inlays. To Aleron’s untrained eye, the décor seemed equal to any he had seen in the royal palace at Dhargul. “Grandfather, are you sure this is a boarding house? It seems more like a palace.”
“This has been the best Nhargul has to offer for centuries and as such, commands the highest prices and attracts the most foreign clientele,” Hadaras explained. “They can afford to decorate like a king and their clients expect it. “Ho, Grimbel!” he called to the white-maned dwarf manning the counter. “It’s good to see that you’re still running this place.”
“Is that you, Hadaras?” the ancient dwarf inquired. “My beard had a lot less gray in it the last time you paid a visit, but you look like you hardly aged a day in what must be a dozen years. Who is this young companion, son, grandson?”
“Yes, my friend, it has indeed been a long time,” Hadaras agreed. The last time he stayed was on his return journey from Immin Bul. “This is my grandson, Aleron. Aleron, I would like you to meet Grimbel, the finest innkeeper in the Northern Kingdom. He has run this establishment nigh on one hundred and fifty years.”
“I’m pleased to meet you Sir,” Aleron said. “You certainly have a beautiful place.”
“Pleased to meet you as well, lad. I see old Hadaras taught you good manners and your Dwarvish is quite good.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“We would like a room with two beds please,” Hadaras requested, “and please have two tubs brought in for bathing. It would be good to wash off the stink of the road.”
“No issues with the room,” Grimbel answered, “but the tubs are another thing. We’ve done a bit of a renovation since you were here last. The old copper tubs are gone. You can get a room with a tub built in and take turns, or you can get the room without a tub cheaper and use the common baths.”
“What might be your prices for such rooms?”
“In Sudean coin, four silver a night for the tub, two and a half for the one without.”
After a moment of internal deliberation, Hadaras replied, “We will take the room with the tub. We’ll be staying at least five nights, so here is one gold piece.” He opened his money pouch and laid the small gold coin on the counter, conserving the bulkier silver pieces for other purposes. They would visit the bank to change more gold over to silver before they left the city. “Is dinner still included with the price of the room?”
“Most certainly and in the morning, if you’re early enough, there’s likely to be some pastries left from the night prior, but you’re on your own for the midday meal.”
“Perfect, my friend, now, if someone could please show us our room, we’ll make ourselves presentable before dinner.”
As if on cue, a sharply dressed young porter appeared from a back room, gold buttons gleaming against his black waistcoat. “Dalbek, please see these fine gentlemen to room fifteen,” Grimbel instructed, handing the key to the porter.
“Of course, Sir,” Dalbek replied. “Gentlemen, may I take your bags?”
“Thank you, but no need for that,” Hadaras replied. “Our load is light.”
“Very well, Sir, if it would please you to follow me…” The porter turned on his heel and led then down a corridor into the east wing of the building. As in the Southern Kingdom, all interior areas of the entirely subterranean city were lit with the glass orbs that somehow channeled the power of lightning to produce light and heat. Arriving at their room, he unlocked the heavy door of carved wood, opened it and held the key out to Hadaras. “Your room, Gentlemen. I will wait here to assure it meets with your approval.”
Hadaras accepted the key and stepped in to inspect the room, setting down his saddlebags just inside. Aleron did the same as he followed his grandfather in. The room was well decorated, though not as lavishly as the foyer. Finely woven tapestries hung from the walls at intervals to mimic windows. Aleron checked the bath as Hadaras inspected the two large beds. The door was tightly fitted and he realized why when the wave of humidity hit him headlong. The one-piece marble tub, luxuriously large for one, ran with steaming water, a tinge of sulfur in the air indicative of a hot spring source to the ever-replenishing flow. Yet another tightly fitted door revealed the privy.
Hadaras stole a quick glance into the bath area before returning to Grimbel. “This room will do quite nicely, thank you.”
“Grandfather, do you mind if I check out the common baths?” Aleron inquired, before the porter had a chance to leave. “I think it might save us some time and I’m really hungry.”
“That would be fine, Aleron, but please try to speak the local tongue where you are able. It’s the polite thing to do,” Hadaras admonished.
“Oh, that is quite all right,” Grimbel reassured them. “I understand Sudean quite well.”
“No, my grandfather is right, Grimbel. It was impolite of me to exclude you from the conversation, not knowing you could speak our language. For that, I apologize.”
“No apology necessary, good Sir. It is our pleasure to serve you. I will stay to guide you to the bath house, if you so desire,” the dwarf offered.
“Thank you, that would be wonderful,” Aleron agreed. “Please give me a moment to get my clothes.”
“Thank you for all your help, Grimbel,” Hadaras said, pressing a full silver piece into the young dwarf’s hand, while Aleron returned with a rolled bundle of clothing.
“Thank you, Sir!” he replied, followed by, “Please follow me, Sir.”
Aleron found himself in an expansive chamber with vaulted ceilings. A large pool, big enough to swim in, filled the center of the room. He tested the water and found it not hot, but comfortably neutral, likely mountain stream water, tempered with hot spring water. Several smaller pools of steaming water lined the sides, each large enough for several occupants. Aleron took a towel from a stack near the door, set it and his clothing on a bench by the nearest hot pool and disrobed. Nearby, a shower flowed from a brass fixture projecting from the wall, next to a shelf full of fresh bar soap, allowing him to wash away the grime before settling into the clean hot bath.
Soon he lounged, submerged up to his neck in luxuriously hot water. He dunked his head for a few seconds, slicked his hair out of his face and then leaned back into the stone headrest, eyes closed. Shortly afterward, he opened his eyes at the sound of soft footsteps. A young woman of fifteen or sixteen stood before him, eying him quizzically. At the sight of her, he covered himself with his hands under the water, causing her to giggle.
“You Sudeans are ever so proper,” she remarked, with only a trace of a Castian accent. She looked to be eastern Castian, her skin lighter and her hair dark brown and wavy, rather than black and straight like the western folk. That hair cascaded over her back, past her knees and her dark almond-shaped eyes sparkled with mirth. “I am Didia Aurelia,” she introduced herself, “and who might you be?”
“I might be Aleron,” he replied. Nearly forgetting himself, he began to stand to render a bow, but recovered in time, repositioning his hands to maintain decency. “Wait…you’re one of the Castian royal family, aren’t you? Please forgive me for my insolence, Your Grace.”
“Ever so proper and always so formal,” she continued, as she pulled her simple but delicately embroidered dress over her head, revealing that she was completely naked underneath. She gave it a quick fold before placing it on the same bench as Aleron’s clothing, kicked off her slippers and proceeded to the shower. Aleron tried to look away, out of courtesy, but glimpses from the edge of his vision kept pulling his eye to her. She caught him peeking and laughed again. “It’s fine if you want to watch, Aleron. I don’t mind,” she half taunted, before coming back to his pool and lowering herself into the steaming water. “Besides, it’s rude to not look at someone when you’re talking with them.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” he replied, turning to look straight into her eyes, though he couldn’t help but see everything below her eyes.
“Please forego the formality,” she implored him. “My friends call me Didi. Do you always go by Aleron?”
“No, most people call me Al, except for my grandfather. He always uses my full name.”
Noticing he was still covering himself below the water, she commented, “You Sudeans don’t really do public baths, do you?”
“Not really,” Aleron replied. He readjusted by crossing his legs to free his hands.
“To what house do you belong?”
“I belong to no house,” he answered, true enough, considering House Sudea was not yet reestablished.
“Oh, are you a merchant then?”
“No, we are just travelling. My grandfather thought it important for me to see some of the world.”
“Interesting, who is your grandfather, who is not a noble, nor a merchant, but can afford to travel in such manner? This is a very expensive inn.”
“Well, I grew up thinking he was a retired soldier, but I just recently found out that he was Lord Marshal for a time. He left with a fairly hefty pension from that post.”
“That might explain it,” she replied, settling further down into the pool, “but I sense that there is more to you than all that. I have a very good sense of things like that, but I won’t pry into your private affairs.”
He noticed her toes lightly stroking his ankle after she sank deeper into the water. “I assure you that we have nothing to hide,” he answered, as he began planning his escape. I need to get back to the room soon, he thought, but Didia seemed to have something else in mind, as her toes crept up Aleron’s shin.
“I think you are lying to me Aleron,” she replied with a mischievous grin, “but I’m sure I can get the truth out of you…eventually.”
Abandoning any plans for a modest exit, Aleron levered himself out of the pool and onto the deck in one fluid motion. “I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I really must get back to my room. Grandfather is waiting on me for supper,” he explained, heading directly for his towel for which he was forced to walk around to her side. “I really did enjoy meeting you.”
“You as well. It’s a shame you couldn’t stay longer,” Didia stated as she rose to exit the pool as well. She studied him with unveiled amusement while he attempted to dry off without exposing himself. “You say that you are common folk, Aleron, but you have the build of a fighter. Most commoners don’t develop that sort of a build until sometime after they enter the military. You look like you’ve trained your entire life, just like a high-born son.”
“Grandfather was the Lord Marshal, after all,” he said, pulling on his breeches. “He always believed in training.” He was buttoning his shirt, with the girl in front of languidly patting herself dry and doing nothing to conceal her body from him. I’ve heard Castians are loose with modesty, but this is too much, he thought before saying, “It was very nice meeting you Didi, but I do have to go.”
She was only then reaching for her shift and replied, “It was nice meeting you as well, Aleron. I do so prefer your full name over just Al. Perhaps I will see you at supper?”
“Perhaps,” he replied as he turned to leave, “but if not, I hope you have a wonderful evening.”
Aleron returned to the room to find Hadaras dressed and buckling on his sword and dagger. “Are we going armed in the city Grandfather? We didn’t do that in Dhargul.”
“Yes Aleron, it is customary to be always armed in the north,” his grandfather replied.
As it turns out, the Northern Kingdom of the Blue Mountain Dwarves is quite different in atmosphere from the Southern Kingdom. Due to the border shared with the Central Jungle and Kolixtlan, the northerners deal with near constant incursions of wild-men, half-trolls and hobgoblins from the jungle. They are the most militarized of the four dwarvish kingdoms, maintaining the largest standing army. All male dwarves train as warriors and any of the kingdoms are able to muster armies if needed, but professional soldiers are generally volunteers and rare. The Northern Kingdom, in contrast, requires a mandatory period of four years’ military service from all able-bodied dwarves, beginning a week after their twentieth birthday. A large number of them choose to stay on longer, receiving a generous pension after forty or more years of service and often still young enough to go into business for themselves, dwarves often living over two hundred years.
“What took you so long getting back?” Hadaras inquired of his charge.
“I met someone and it was hard to get away.”
“Really,” Hadaras replied, with a knowing glint in his eye, “and who was she?”
Aleron, knowing full well that his grandfather was on to him, replied, “Didia Aurelia, the Castian Princess.”
“Ah, yes, second in line for the throne, after her older sister. I had heard that her father was taking her abroad to learn the business side of her family’s dealings. How was she?”
“She was very nice,” Aleron answered, blushing as he said it, “very casual, for a princess.”
“Yes, the Castians do have a gift for the casual. Welcome that, as you will not find it so when we reach the elvish lands.”
Eventually, they arrived at the dinner meal. Being served buffet style, the diners grabbed plates and served themselves. Soon after seating, they heard, “Hadaras! Please join me for a drink!” They looked over to the source of the invitation to see King Aurelius, ruler of Castia, waving to Hadaras to join him. Didia, her mother and several courtiers were also in the group. Hadaras set down his plate and joined the Castians. Aurelius poured an amphora into several glasses and offering one to Hadaras said, “What brings you to Nhargul, you old rascal? I thought you long since retired.”
“I have, but I needed for my grandson to see some of the world,” he replied.
“Ah, yes, Didia mentioned meeting him in the baths, and that is a good thing for a grandfather to do. Mine did much the same for me, when I was a boy, after he handed the throne to my father. What of the parents, too busy to travel?”
“Passed away, I’m afraid. I’ve raised Aleron since the age of two.”
“I am so sorry to hear that old friend,” Aurelius replied with sincere empathy. “I lost two brothers and my parents and I were inconsolable both times. I can only imagine what it must be like to lose a child. How old is the boy now?”
“He is fifteen years, by a couple months now. I know that he is tall and well spoken, but as yet, he is quite young.”
“Yes, I would have taken him for at least sixteen. My daughter said that he claims to be common, but has the build of a fighter. Knowing that you raised him explains that well enough.” Then he leaned in and whispered to Hadaras, “But I must come to my point, Hadaras. I respect you and would gladly welcome your line into my family. My girl likes your grandson. What are his prospects for marriage?”
“As much as I would welcome such a match, Your Grace,” Hadaras replied, “I believe the lad has already promised himself to the Steward of Sudea’s daughter. I’m not certain of this and I am sure they have done nothing to consummate the agreement, but I have a strong suspicion that such is the case.”
“That would explain his cold reception to my daughter’s advances,” the King surmised, chuckling softly. “Unfortunate as it may be, and as angry as she may be, I will explain the situation to her.”
“Thank you, old friend. Life is becoming complicated these days.”
“You know it’s true,” the King replied. “Had I only a single boy, amongst my wife and all my concubines, I would not be going through the trials I am today.”  The whispered exchange complete, they continued to trade pleasantries for a few moments until the King declared, “How rude of me to keep you here, while your supper grows cold. Go and eat, my friend. We can catch up over a glass of wine after the meal.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. I will return with Aleron straightaway after we eat.”
After Hadaras’ departure Aurelius explained to Didia, “Dearest, the boy is promised to another. I am not saying you should not pursue, but the task may not be so easy.”

Lowering his voice, he continued, “This must not go further than this table, but I know for a fact that Hadaras is an elf, disguising himself as a man. That boy is at least a quarter-blood, if not a full halfblood and so his lineage is a moot point, but he is promised to the Sudean Steward’s last daughter. He will be a difficult catch, but if you catch him, you will have a man worth the effort.”
“Understood, Father,” Didia replied.

***

Once again, the sun rose on Zorekday and Aleron’s week in Nhargul was over. He did not enjoy his stay in the north quite as much as when they visited Dhargul. Because of the dearth of friendly neighbors, northerners tend to be reserved with strangers. Aleron saw that although the architecture and the level of technical advancement seemed to be about the same between the north and south, the southerners appeared able to enjoy the fruits of their labor more fully than their northern cousins were. He liked a few things about the Northern Kingdom though. As they prepared to leave, he remarked to his grandfather, “Grandfather, I think I like the idea of compulsory service that they use here. I think I might use it when I’m King.”
“Really and how would you propose going about with this plan?” Hadaras asked, continuing, “I think you may find the population of Sudea to be a bit large for any universal conscription to be feasible.”
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking about that for the common people, Grandfather. Your right; there are far too many people for that. I was thinking along the lines of what the Steward said that one time. He said that all noble sons should serve, and I believe he is right. Otherwise, what purpose do the nobility serve, if they do not serve the kingdom?”
“That, my boy, makes more sense,” Hadaras agreed, “and I believe that would be a good thing for Sudea, that the nobles do not forget for what they exist.”
The inimical nature of the locals aside, another stressor for Aleron was Didia’s steady stream of advances. No matter where he went in the city, he managed to bump into her at least once over the course of the day, besides seeing her every night at supper. She would not be deterred, even after he explained to her that he was interested in another. He admitted to himself that he did like her and in other circumstances, he would not be so reticent, though his Sudean sensibilities were a bit affronted by such an aggressive pursuit by a woman. Had he really thought about it, he would have realized that Eilowyn was every bit as aggressive, but in a much more refined manner.
Finished with saddling and loading the horses, the pair led the animals out of the stables and to the city gate, just in time to see the portcullis rise, allowing the score of waiting travelers to exit into the wilderness beyond.  It was a bell past the dawn, allowing the patrols time to sweep the immediate area prior to opening the gate.